SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – American International College Director of Athletics
Richard Bedard announced that
Julie Zoolkoski is resigning as head field hockey coach. A national search for her replacement will begin immediately.
Zoolkoski, who recently announced her engagement to Allegheny College head baseball coach Kelly Swiney, will remain at AIC until the end of the academic year or until a new coach is found.
“We are very sorry to lose Julie and will miss her very much,” said Bedard. “She is an excellent coach who quickly earned the respect of her players and her fellow coaches. In her four years here she dramatically improved the quality of our program. We wish her nothing but the best as she moves on to a new phase of her life.”
When Zoolkoski arrived at AIC, she inherited a program that had won just six games the previous four seasons and quickly built the Yellow Jackets into a program on the verge of competing for a postseason berth. The Yellow Jackets improved their win total and position in the Northeast-10 standings in each of Zoolkoski’s four seasons.
“It is very difficult for me to leave AIC and the team,” Zoolkoski said. “AIC field hockey is comprised of a tremendous group of women who have worked extremely hard for the success they have achieved. I am very proud of what we have accomplished and am confident AIC will find a new coach who will pick up where I left off and lead the team to success. I would like to sincerely thank Mr. Bedard, the AIC community and the parents for their overwhelming support over the past four years and with the transition of the program.”
AIC won a school-record six games in 2009 and finished just one game behind Southern Connecticut State University for the sixth and final spot in the Northeast-10 Championship Tournament. The Yellow Jackets had two players – sophomore
Linsey Fernandes and
Stephanie Laskey ’08 - named all-Americans, the first in program history, and six all-conference selections under Zoolkoski.